Attachment system for prosthesis

Abstract

An attachment system secures a residual limb to an artificial limb in a comfortable and substantially non-rotational manner. The attachment system offers proximal anchoring of the residual limb in a hard socket, by connecting a side surface of a residual limb liner to the side surface of the socket. Preferably, this connection is accomplished using an extension member extending from the liner through a portion of the socket interior, through the socket wall, and attaching to a latch mechanism. The preferred attachment system requires no clearance in the bottom of the socket well because neither the extension member nor the latch mechanism is located between the distal end of the residual limb/liner and the bottom of the well. The attachment system is preferably disposed entirely along the side of the limb and the side of the socket.

1. An attachment system for a prosthesis comprising:
 a prosthesis having a socket with a side wall surrounding and defining an interior well for receiving a user's residual limb; 
 a roll-on liner adapted to attach to a user's residual limb by surrounding the residual limb, the roll-on liner being received in the socket; 
 an extension member passing from the roll-on liner through the socket side wall and connecting to an outer side surface of the socket; and, 
 a latch mechanism with a pivotal arm and a bias member, and the extension member further comprises a strap having transverse teeth in its upper surface and detents between said teeth, 
 wherein the strap slides through the latch mechanism and is retained in the latch mechanism by the pivotal arm being biased into said detents. 
 
   
   
     2. An attachment system as in  claim 1 , wherein said pivotal arm has a pivot axis and extends distally from said pivot axis and is adapted to be pivoted away from said socket to release the strap from the latch mechanism. 
   
   
     3. An attachment system for a prosthesis comprising:
 a prosthesis having a socket with a side wall surrounding and defining an interior well for receiving a user's residual limb; 
 a roll-on liner adapted to attach to a user's residual limb by surrounding the residual limb, the roll-on liner being received in the socket; 
 an extension member passing from the roll-on liner through the socket side wall and connecting to a outer side surface of the socket; 
 the attachment system further comprising a latch mechanism receiving and latching onto the extension member, and wherein the extension member further comprises a strap with a longitudinal axis, a width transverse to the longitudinal axis, and an extension at a distal end of the strap. the extension having a width that is less than half of the width of the strap; and, 
 wherein said extension has a longitudinal channel with a ramped bottom wall. 
 
   
   
     4. An attachment system for a prosthesis, comprising:
 a liner adapted to fit over the residual limb of a user, said liner having a proximal region and a distal end, and an outside surface adapted to extend circumferentially all the way around the residual limb; 
 a strap secured to the proximal region of said liner's outside surface, said strap extending towards the distal end of said liner; 
 a socket for fitting over said liner and said residual limb, said socket having a proximal end and a distal end, an inside surface, and an outside surface; 
 an aperture in said socket for allowing said strap to pass from the inside surface of the socket to the outside surface of the socket, said aperture being placed proximally on said socket; and 
 a lock mechanism on the outside surface of said socket for receiving and securing said strap; and, 
 wherein said strap has a plurality of transverse detents on the top surface thereof. 
 
   
   
     5. An attachment system according to  claim 4  wherein said lock mechanism comprises a buckle device with a spring-biased lever with a sharp edge for engaging one of said transverse detents. 
   
   
     6. An attachment system for a prosthesis, comprising:
 a liner adapted to fit over the residual limb of a user, said liner having a proximal region and a distal end, and an outside surface adapted to extend circumferentially all the way around the residual limb; 
 a strap secured to the proximal region of said liner's outside surface, said strap extending towards the distal end of said liner; 
 a socket for fitting over said liner and said residual limb, said socket having a proximal end and a distal end, an inside surface, and an outside surface; 
 an aperture in said socket for allowing said strap to pass from the inside surface of the socket to the outside surface of the socket, said aperture being placed proximally on said socket; and 
 a lock mechanism on the outside surface of said socket for receiving and securing said strap; and, 
 wherein said lock mechanism comprises a ratchet buckle with a lever at its distal end, the lever being pivotal into a latch position near the socket wherein it secures the strap in the lock mechanism, and pivotal into an unlatch position away from the socket wherein it release the strap to slide out of the lock mechanism.